RE-ADVERTISEMENT: National consultancy to coordinate the development and implementation of Vaccine Management Information System in Uzbekistan

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Background:

Starting January 2014, Uzbekistan has entered the accelerated transition phase from GAVI support to independent and sustainable vaccine procurement by the end of 2020. Taking this into consideration the Ministry of Health with support of UNICEF and WHO began implementation of the project on substantial cold chain improvement – Health System Strengthening (HSS). The project not only includes construction and renovation of cold chain facilities across the country and installation of modern equipment and devices, but also establishing modern electronic data base for vaccine stock inventory at the national, regional, district, and PHC levels.

Such upgrade of cold chain system requires development and introduction of a comprehensive, precise and professional quality monitoring system – Vaccine Management Information System (VMIS). The VMIS will connect all cold chain stores located at various levels into one network for constant consolidation and analysis of up-to-date information on vaccines stock, its movement and consumption, and possible re-fill, will provide a ready-to-go reports and information for decision makers, serve as a basis for the budgeting and forecasting. The system will allow to connect to Healthcare database once it is introduced in the country. This initiative is in line with the current government strategy to digitalize the information in healthcare system.

After selection of the company for development, implementation and follow up the Vaccine Management Information System, it was recommended to hire a specialist to facilitate the VMIS project implementation.

Objectives:

To hire a project manager who will coordinate the development and implementation of Vaccine Management Information System (VLMIS) to ensure that all deliverables are completed on time as per the scope of the project. The consultant will also provide technical support and facilitation in testing and piloting the VLMIS in line with the VMIS project timeframe and partners’ requirements.

Timeline & Deliverables:

The consultant will ensure smooth development and implementation of the system into regular work of immunization programme by conducting the following tasks during period of October 2020 – December 2021:

Activity and Deliverables

1. Coordinate the development of VMIS architecture and framework to include business needs and international recommendation for a vaccine management information system – VMIS architecture and framework are developed;
2. Coordinate with software vendor, stakeholders, and the project team to ensure that the project meets its stated objective on time and within allocated resources – Completion of the project on time as per the project plan; 
3. Facilitate the process of government endorsement to the VMIS system architecture and framework – VMIS architecture and framework is endorsed; 
4. Coordination of development of training materials and other documentation and testing the pilot version – Pilot version, training documents and draft user instructions are ready;
5. Coordinate implementation process including training in the regions – Pilot version is launched in all regions, regional trainings are conducted according to the project implementation plan; 
6. Liaising between Agency, UNICEF, WHO and implementing company to consider relevant issues – Constant communication/meetings; 
7. Monitoring and follow up implementation and maintenance stage of VMIS – Records, reports, mission reports; 
8. Final assessment of VMIS implementing company’s work and verification of the project activities – Reports; 
9. Regular monitoring and reporting on financial issues related to VMIS project – Reports; 
10. Provide technical and management support to planning and deployment of other digital health solutions – Meeting minutes.

Methodology/Activities:

The consultant work is office-based work with the relevant stakeholders and partners following VMIS project implementation timeframe and UNICEF regulations related to this issue.  All travel related to the project will be reimbursed based on UN DSA rates and in line with travel guidelines and procedures established in the office.

Management:

The Contractor shall work under the direct supervision of the Chief Child Health and Wellbeing and in close collaboration with the Agency for Sanitary and Epidemiologic Wellbeing under the Ministry of Health.

Resource requirements and payments:

The consultant will work on daily basis according to the VMIS project implementation schedule. The final budget will be set based on the “best value for money” principle. The monthly renumeration will be paid to him/her based upon submission of the report including deliverables mentioned above. Payments may be partially or fully withheld in case of unsatisfactory performance of duties or failure to provide the deliverables by the agreed deadlines. While contract would be in USD, however, all invoices and payments would be in local currency via bank transfer.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• University degree in health informatics, Computer Science, Business Management, public health or related fields
• Internationally recognized project management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, Agile or substantial equivalent, obtained at least 5 years prior to the offer submission date
• Minimum five years’ experience at the national level in IT project management and implementing 
• Proven experience in designing or deploying digital health solution with Governments
• Knowledge and experience working with Global Digital Goods such as DHIS2, OpenMRS, OpenSRP iHRIS, OpenHIE, MoTECH, CommCare, RapidPro etc
• Experience of working with the Ministry of Health and/or Republican Sanitary Epidemiologic Station will be an asset
• Fluency in English, Russian and/or Uzbek is required

Procedures and Working Conditions

The contractor shall be fully responsible for the implementation of VMIS project and shall work independently and in close collaboration with the responsible UNICEF and Ministry of Health staff.

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.